Near the Great Ravine by the Ancient Forest.
A Frenzied Great Jagras, eyes blood-red, went berserk, tearing apart one of its own kind. Just as it was about to leave in search of new prey, a thick fog rose over the ground, its appearance unnoticed until it had already spread.
The Frenzied Great Jagras staggered only a few steps into the mist before collapsing. In mere seconds, its life was extinguished.
Before entering a host, the Frenzy Virus existed in an inorganic state. Once inside, it reacted with certain substances in the host's blood, transforming into organic matter. The virus then became active, breaking through the host's immune system and nervous system, ultimately leading to infection.
After killing several small monsters infected with the Frenzy Virus, the Chameleos instinctively discerned the difference between them and normal monsters.
It specifically concocted a new toxin aimed at the nervous system and bloodstream. Since Frenzied monsters' immune systems had already been destroyed by the virus, leaving them with low resistance and fragile nerves, only a trace of this highly targeted toxin was enough to prove lethal.
The Chameleos controlled the dosage carefully. Ordinary monsters that came into contact with the toxic mist would feel discomfort, but it wouldn't be fatal.
The Frenzied monsters, however, would die off in large numbers within the fog.
This was how it created a misty zone spanning nearly half the Ancient Forest—like a pesticide, efficiently and effortlessly wiping out every Frenzied monster that strayed inside.
And all it had to do was stay invisible, stroll around, and, along the way, figure out how to pry open that damned lock.
This kind of easy, laid-back work was exactly what it loved most!
With the Chameleos' intervention, not a single Frenzied monster had been sighted by the Fire Wyvern swarm for over half a month. Life gradually seemed to return to its normal rhythm.
Under the spell of the moonlight, Logan, who had been back in the Ancient Tree for so many days, finally managed to restore Aki to her normal state amidst the crushing emptiness.
Counting the days, the time for this year's "Selection" was drawing near.
For a full two years, not a single new hatchling had been born to the Fire Wyvern swarm of the Ancient Tree. Surely by now, both the male Fire Wyverns and the long-prepared females were growing restless.
Logan lowered his head to look at Aki, who seemed to have slept poorly. Shifting his body slightly, he slid his tail beneath her head, offering it as a pillow.
He gently licked her cheek, his gaze soft and tender.
Watching Aki sink into peaceful slumber, a warmth stirred in his chest.
Though Aki hadn't gone through any preparations for breeding, with her physique there should be no concern of nutritional deficiency.
Still, he couldn't help but wonder—would Aki manage to conceive this year?
Turning his eyes toward the bright moon above, Logan didn't know why, but he found himself genuinely anticipating the arrival of those little lives.
Meanwhile, outside the Fire Wyvern nest, Tonkotsu and the Grimalkyne chief were quietly holding a meeting with the other cats.
They knew well that the time for the Fire Wyvern swarm's breeding season was near. They didn't care much about the other wyverns—but this year, their revered boss would also be producing offspring.
Even if Lady Aki, who had not prepared for breeding, might not succeed, as the most loyal Grimalkyne kin of the Fire Wyvern chief, they had to be ready for anything.
No Kulu-Ya-Ku or any other creature would be allowed within a single step of the nest!
Tonkotsu's eyes blazed with conviction. He swore an oath that under his command, the Fire Wyvern guard would defend every inch of the territory.
With their current strength, and with all the new traps laid out around the nest, any Kulu-Ya-Ku daring to intrude would never return!
In the days that followed, the male Fire Wyverns busied themselves with preparations—some expanding the nest, others stockpiling food.
The cats too were bustling with activity. With the close bond now shared between them and the Fire Wyverns, many of the swarm's smaller tasks had been left in the cats' capable paws. And so, during breeding season, the cats hardly had a moment to rest.
If anyone in the Ancient Tree could be said to be in a foul mood, it was surely the Rathian "first wives." Not only did they have to share their mate, they also had to fend off the challenges of "concubines." No matter how one looked at it, they had little to be happy about.
All they could do was seize every spare moment to hunt, sharpening their condition to the peak in preparation for the battles ahead.
Logan watched as Aki went out to feed as usual, returned and pressed close to him as usual, rested for an hour or two, then set off again to patrol the territory—her routine no different from any other day.
Her behavior was so completely unchanged that Logan couldn't make sense of it.
Seriously—what time was it now? The other Rathians would be arriving for "courtship" in just a day or two! And Aki showed no reaction at all, not the slightest hint of urgency or crisis.
In past years, during this period, Aki had always been on edge. She would forbid Logan from going out freely, never leave the nest for more than half an hour, and spend her spare time like a gatekeeper at the entrance, glaring at any female Fire Wyvern who dared approach.
But now—nothing!
Her daily schedule was perfectly regular, as though she wasn't concerned in the least that Logan might take a liking to another Rathian.
For Logan, who had been tightly restricted year after year, the sudden freedom felt strange—uneasy, even.
Was she… not interested in him anymore?
That didn't seem right either. Every night, she still had to curl up against him to fall asleep. In their free moments, she still clung to him constantly. Clearly, there was nothing wrong with their bond.
No matter how long he thought about it, Logan couldn't figure it out. In the end, he could only grumble to himself that Aki was an unfeeling mother wyvern—once she had him, she no longer bothered to treasure him!
All in all, he was just a little bit mad!
...
Aki returned from her patrol, only to see Logan's massive form turn away from her the very instant their eyes met.
She didn't quite understand why, but she instinctively sensed that Logan was angry.
Her expression immediately darkened. Her cold gaze swept across the surroundings, searching for whatever had upset him.
For a mated pair of Fire Wyverns, body and soul were one—anyone who offended Logan was offending her as well!
But after scanning the area, she saw nothing unusual apart from the cats on their normal guard duty.
Somewhat uncertain, Aki reined in her bristling posture and approached Logan, leaning close to rub against him, trying to soothe his mood.
But to her shock, Logan only cast her a brief glance before turning his head away, ignoring her completely.
Boom!
It was like a bolt of lightning tore through Aki's mind. She stared in bewilderment at Logan's sudden coldness. This was the first time he had ever refused her affection.
She had no idea what she had done wrong. Feeling wronged, she gently bit down on Logan's wing, letting out a soft whimper like a young beast, her wide eyes gazing pitifully up at him.
"Heh, do you think just like that… I'll forgive you?!"
Alright, Logan admitted it—he was hopelessly bound to this female.
Faced with her tender, wifely demeanor, he truly couldn't resist!
He lowered his head and gave Aki's skull a mock "ferocious" nibble, then, using the absolute advantage of his size, pressed her beneath him, nipping lightly at her neck in irritation.
In the midst of Aki's playful resistance, the two tumbled into teasing, roughhousing, and laughter.
Three days slipped by in a flash.
The Chameleos tossed the successfully picked lock in front of the Supply Squad leader's cabin door. When the man came out at the noise and saw the lock—cleverly undone by skill rather than brute force—his shocked expression made the Chameleos happily flick its tail.
That lock had only held it back for six days! Not a full seven!
The Supply Squad leader hung the lock at his waist, rubbed his head, and after letting out a relieved breath, forced an angry scowl onto his face. Muttering curses like "damned thief" and "next time won't be so easy," he stalked off toward the smithy.
Watching his back, the Chameleos was in high spirits. It swayed as it padded to the warehouse door, nudged open the now-unlocked entrance, and without even looking, flicked its tongue to roll the goods from a plate straight into its mouth.
[Crunch, crunch!]
Its eyes lit up!
These sugar beans tasted different—richer, made with better ingredients!
Truly, the heavens did not disappoint those who strove diligently. Bringing along that lock on its "business trip" had not been in vain.
With its belly warm and satisfied, the Chameleos flew off to the plantation for its daily patrol of the territory.
Later, when the Supply Squad leader brought the newly forged, upgraded lock to the warehouse, he noticed that the special ancient medicine he had placed on the plate was missing. The corner of his lips curved ever so slightly.
With practiced ease, he placed another pill onto the tray, shut the warehouse door, and secured it with the new lock.
This was still a contest of dignity between them—one far from over.
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